Twenty years ago, Daniella Lerner gave birth to quintuplets — four boys and a girl. She was just 27 ½ weeks pregnant when the quins arrived.

Only the girl, Jodi, survived. Three of the boys died within a week and the fourth within a month. Jodi was left needing immediate cardiac surgery. She still has ongoing health problems, in addition to learning difficulties.

Despite the devastation, Mrs Lerner, now 45, devoted herself to bringing up Jodi and the three healthy daughters she subsequently bore: Sasha, now 18, Emma 14, and Tamara, 11. Mrs Lerner has now decided to share her experiences in her newly-published book Four More Tears. In it, she explains how she dealt with the heartache and joys she has faced. “I feel that my journey is one that has taken me to extreme highs and extreme lows, and throughout it all, I have somehow managed to keep going and keep smiling,” she tells People. The book describes some of the strategies she developed to cope — among them, becoming a fitness fanatic. In the last few years, she has run two marathons for Norwood and a triathlon for Kisharon. Both organisations have helped her care for Jodi, who lives in the Langdon Community in Edgware, North London, which offers help and accommodation to young Jewish adults with learning difficulties.

Mrs Lerner plans to become a counsellor and hopes to inspire others by sharing her experiences with an even wider public. In November, she will address ladies at Borehamwood United Synagogue, Hertfordshire. She lives in Borehamwood with her husband, Martin.

Four More Tears is published by Ecademy Press and is available from WH Smith and Amazon.